B!TC# IT OUT!

**Mermaid Clara** · 06-09-2016, 01:53 PM

I woke up to a dead betta. My beloved Doctor Who passed away. I'm extremely upset because he was my favorite betta, sure all of my fish are my favorites but Doctor was amazing. He was always swimming around and he always looked at me whenever I was around his tank.
Swim in peace, Doctor.

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**Sapphire Mermaid** · 06-09-2016, 07:13 PM

Okay, so here is my rant, and I am in no way trying to offend anyone when I say this. Here goes:

Silicone tails. I get that they are amazing and it's so much fun seeing people make them and get creative, but I am so sick to death of them being seen as so much better than the fabric ones. I have seen some tails made with fabric that the silicone ones have nothing on. But it seems that they go widely under the radar because they aren't silicone. I am just sick of it! Every tail is amazing because it allows people to become something they have dreamed of, and it doesn't matter if it's made of silicone, fabric, or old bit of leather. (I mean, it wouldn't swim well, but if you love it, go for it!) Everyone should feel like their tail is the bees knees, because it is! If it lets you be who you truly feel you are, then, as far as I am concerned, it is the best tail in existence!! Screw everyone else's! Your tail is fabulous.

I just hate the lack of love across the board at times.

Okay, I feel better now.

**Sabrina the Selkie** · 06-09-2016, 07:24 PM

If you are calling someone specific out, this should go in the drama bubble thread.

And yes. Both types of tails are awesome, and they have individual bonuses. Silicone is more ostensibly realistic, but fabric is no less etherial and beautiful AND has agility and manouverablity on its side. It's all in what the mermaid in question needs.

Pretty much everyone on the forum recognizes this.

**Sapphire Mermaid** · 06-09-2016, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by Sabrina the Selkie

If you are calling someone specific out, this should go in the drama bubble thread.

And yes. Both types of tails are awesome, and they have individual bonuses. Silicone is more ostensibly realistic, but fabric is no less etherial and beautiful AND has agility and manouverablity on its side. It's all in what the mermaid in question needs.

Pretty much everyone on the forum recognizes this.

I'm not calling anyone out. Which is why I posted it here. It's a general feeling I get from people. And I am not just talking about people here. It's across the board.

**Shimmer Mermaid** · 06-09-2016, 07:49 PM

I actually just yesterday (granted I've gotten told this by quite a few people as well) got told by someone who was going to hire me to appear at a mermaid themed baby shower, which they wanted me specifically even more because I am also pregnant.

They asked if I could send photos of myself in my tail, (they were going to send me a head piece that matches my tail to wear as well). They saw I have a modded fabric tail and said "oh, we thought you had a good tail. Like a rubber one. Nevermind."
It hurt my feelings SO bad. I worked my butt off to make my fabric tail as realistic as possible.

**Hydra1337** · 06-09-2016, 07:52 PM

That's so mean...that sucks.

**Echidna** · 06-09-2016, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by Shimmer Mermaid

They asked if I could send photos of myself in my tail, (they were going to send me a head piece that matches my tail to wear as well). They saw I have a modded fabric tail and said "oh, we thought you had a good tail. Like a rubber one. Nevermind."

this makes me effin' MAD! And it didn't even happen to me.

And yep, I've seen fabric tails just as realistic as silicone, in my eyes at least.
Fabric tails with long, trailing chiffon flukes (though a total downer to swim in) look so much better, again imo, than a silicone one with the old bump over the heels and those skinny little sidefins.

But I'm used to be in the minority with my taste

I love opera, classic music, and old literature.
You want me gone, just put up some of that horrible noise they call music nowadays, that everyone seems to love so much

Apart from personal preference, you have to consider silicone tails cost a fortune, and humans tend to think of expensive things as better than something that was cheap in comparison.

**Sabrina the Selkie** · 06-09-2016, 10:24 PM

Ugh. That is awful Shimmer. What horrid, horrid deal breakers!

...grrrrrr...

Definitely seconding Echidna.

**Lotus the Mermaid** · 06-10-2016, 01:35 AM

Shimmer... That is HORRIBLE. Forget them, girl! You're a beautiful mer and they will regret writing off a pro performer. I personally have a silicone and can't do nearly as many flips or tricks in it until I get stronger! A lot of times, fabric mers are better at performing than silicone mers either because of experience or just physical maneuverability! Just putting that out there! Keep swimming and you'll be noticed!!

**Mermaid Jaffa** · 06-10-2016, 05:55 AM

Annoying. Had an eye test on Wednesday. My eyesight's worse than before. Now 9.25 in left, 11.00 in right, and my next glasses, I have to wear multi focals! Luckily, I don't have to change swim goggles yet, I can just wear the same one. My next appointment, she will check on how my cataracts are doing, and any other changes in my eyes. I'm not blind by cataracts yet, I can still see just fine. Making the most of what I have left.

**LouLouBelle** · 06-10-2016, 06:03 AM

^ Everything Lotus just said!

Both types of tail have their pros and cons. I love the realistic look of the silicone tails, and I also love the more ethereal look you can get with a fabric tail. Depends what mood I'm in as to which I prefer!

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**Mermaid Jaffa** · 06-10-2016, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by Sapphire Mermaid

Okay, so here is my rant, and I am in no way trying to offend anyone when I say this. Here goes:

Silicone tails. I get that they are amazing and it's so much fun seeing people make them and get creative, but I am so sick to death of them being seen as so much better than the fabric ones. I have seen some tails made with fabric that the silicone ones have nothing on. But it seems that they go widely under the radar because they aren't silicone. I am just sick of it! Every tail is amazing because it allows people to become something they have dreamed of, and it doesn't matter if it's made of silicone, fabric, or old bit of leather. (I mean, it wouldn't swim well, but if you love it, go for it!) Everyone should feel like their tail is the bees knees, because it is! If it lets you be who you truly feel you are, then, as far as I am concerned, it is the best tail in existence!! Screw everyone else's! Your tail is fabulous.

I just hate the lack of love across the board at times.

Okay, I feel better now.

It does feel that way sometimes, especially if you're new. I know I felt exactly like that, then after a while, I'm just meh, I make my own tails, I'm happy. They're super nice to look at, the silicone tails, even drool over it if its a design I can relate to in terms of my swimming skills. Other than the prettiness of them, I'm over it.

I got me fabric tails. Easy to repair or replace. Easier to make now that I've done a few and even can make my own swimwear. Fabric tails are nice and light, does not require help to put on, easy washing and drying, super flowy if you know how to make it so.

And easier to swim in and perform tricks. I've yet to see a silicone tail wearer do more tricks like barrel rolling, front and backwards flips, hang upside down, do handstands, stuff that fabric tail wearers find easier to do.

**Shimmer Mermaid** · 06-10-2016, 01:28 PM

So last night my husband asked me why I put my fabric tail in the back room (my craft room, but I usually keep my tail in the living room or our bed room), and I told him what happened, and that I'm kind of not wanting to look at my personal mermaid stuff for a few days.

He paces the house, and goes "You know what? Screw this. You're getting a silicone tail. And I'm gonna order it TONIGHT."

So I was like "okay, good luck ordering a fully custom silicone tail tonight... You do realize it takes weeks to get an order even started with a tailmaker?"

He says (oh so innocently) "I will get it done. Watch me. You will have a silicone tail within the month!"

So I say "let me know what you find babe!"

He comes back 30 minutes later with a fabric tail pulled up with a screen printed rainbow snake skin pattern printed on it and puts his phone in my face and declares "I FOUND ONE! Ready to ship, really pretty, silicone, and not that expensive! Told you I could find one."

I literally could NOT hold back my laughing tears.

I go "babe, that's a fabric ta-"

"NO! It says silicone RIGHT THERE." *points proudly to the words "silicone tail" in the tags*

"Babe...that's a tag. This tail is $75... Most silicone tails are around $1000 at least. The description says it's made of fabric hun....and it only comes in children's sizes."

"Oh..."

"I'm sorry."

"Its okay, I just want you to have the kind of tail you talk about, and give you what you want."

I had to explain that until I deliver and am no longer pregnant, and am at a steady weight, I don't want a really expensive silicone tail anyway. I'd rather swim with my stretchy fabric tail that I made.

I had to take hours to explain the differences of the tails, fabric, neoprene, silicone, every where in between to him because he wanted to know.

So now every time I talk to him, even about something TOTALLY unrelated, he goes back to "we will get a silicone tail. Then you'll feel better because you'll have a silicone one"

Again, I have to explain that i was never upset about not having a silicone tail, I was upset that they just flat out dissed my tail.

Its just frustrating. Not my husband, but the fact that the whole ordeal happened in the first place.

**Lotus the Mermaid** · 06-10-2016, 01:36 PM

Shimmer, that is super sweet. You got a great pirate! So thankful for supportive hubbies!

**Mermaid Arabella** · 06-10-2016, 02:24 PM

What a bunch of meanie-heads! Don't you listen to them, Shimmer, I'm sure your tail is BEAUTIFUL!! Don't hide it away, be proud! <3 (And what a sweet hubby you have!)

**Shimmer Mermaid** · 06-10-2016, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Lotus the Mermaid

Shimmer, that is super sweet. You got a great pirate! So thankful for supportive hubbies!

He is so great. I'm really glad he supports all of my insane ideas and plans. (he even supported my idea to make a HUGE rideable toothless costume for my horse)

Originally Posted by Mermaid Arabella

What a bunch of meanie-heads! Don't you listen to them, Shimmer, I'm sure your tail is BEAUTIFUL!! Don't hide it away, be proud! <3 (And what a sweet hubby you have!)

I'm very proud of it, it's just almost if I had worked months on a painting and someone told me it sucked. But my tail is safer in the craft room. Especially with us fixing to have a baby in the house. So I'm thinking maybe get my hubby to make me a tail rack to put back there.